Thursday, May 13, 2010

Bringing Home the Birkin

I was recently given a book recommendation by my friend, Betty who said she had just read the most wonderful book about a man who traveled the world buying ultra covetable Hermès Birkin bags. Intrigued, I asked if it was fiction and she told me it was actually a memoir. A few days later, my copy of Bringing Home the Birkin arrived from Amazon. I was instantly smitten! Not only does the book tell the story of a clever and enterprising man who makes a career of securing some of the world’s most sought-after luxury goods for his clients, it is also incredibly well-written, charming, and funny. Author Michael Tonello truly has a gift for story-telling.

Tonello starts off by recounting his sudden move from Massachusetts to Barcelona. What started off as a way to make some quick money eventually becomes an incredibly lucrative career when Michael cracks the formula for purchasing a Birkin without having to put his name on the dreaded two year waiting list. Along the way, he meets a couple of mentors, women with very expensive Birkin addictions (one character purchases multiple crocodile Birkins at a time), and some unsavory characters. Bringing Home the Birkin is a fun, enjoyable read that is bound to appeal to fashionistas and anyone who loves a great travel story. If you are looking for a fun read, I would highly recommend this fabulous book!

{The Allure of the Birkin as told by Michael Tonello with a clip from Sex and the City}

For more Birkin eye-candy, check out this post about Victoria Beckham’s out of this world Birkin collection!

Thanks so much for reading (and posting)! I've just posted this to my Facebook page. If you by any chance come to Barcelona shoot me off an email and we'll have a cup of tea or glass of wine. Be well!michael~